Indigenous hit hardest by dole changes

AN indigenous leader is warning of dire consequences if the Abbott government proceeds with its changes to the dole.

One of two things will happen if safety nets are not maintained, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda says.

"People will either knock on your front door begging for food or they'll break down your back door to take it," he told AAP on Thursday.

His warning follows a report revealing indigenous unemployment is rising faster than it is in the non-indigenous population.

Figures, to be presented on Friday, show the indigenous unemployment rate in 2012/13 was four times higher.

Planned changes to Newstart impose a six-month waiting period for people under 30 and a shift to the lower Youth Allowance for those under 25.

"We're the most unemployed people in Australia, so that's a real concern," Mr Gooda said.

So is the likely dire multiplier impact of cuts to indigenous legal advocacy services.

However, the COAG Reform Council report into indigenous performance found the gap in Year 12 attainment since 2008 has significantly narrowed while gaps in numeracy and literacy have closed in most year groups.

Indigenous immunisation rates for two and five-year-olds have caught up completely and targets to halve the child mortality gap are being met.

But Mr Gooda worries that planned $7 co-payments to visit the doctor could force those rates backwards if they apply to immunisations.

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